“WE CAN’T KEEP UP” 2000 Rally for Good Union Jobs and a Fully Funded City

 

NEW HAVEN—Chanting and holding black and white signs reading “We Can't Keep Up,” and

“One Job Should be Enough,” 2,000 members of UNITE HERE Locals 35, 34, and 33, New Haven Rising, and union and community allies marched to the Yale School of Medicine on Cedar Street.

The extraordinary solidarity set a tone of fight back in the midst of a vicious attack on labor underway from the White House and MAGA.

After meeting up on the New Haven Green in a spirited gathering filled with music, t-shirts and solidarity, the diverse marchers called on Yale University to pay good wages and contribute to New Haven, highlighting how Yale workers and New Haven residents are struggling in the post-pandemic cost of living crisis.

Contract negotiations are currently underway between UNITE HERE Locals 34 and 35 and Yale. Rally attendees called on the university to settle good contracts and contribute more to New Haven looking ahead to next year when its current voluntary contribution agreement in lieu of taxes expires. 

“We fought for a long time to make our jobs good jobs,” said Lisa Stevens, President of Local 34-UNITE HERE. “But what was enough before is not enough anymore. Since the pandemic, the skyrocketing cost of living has caused our members to lose their housing, fall into debt, and even cut back on heat and food,” she said noting “Yale has a $40 billion endowment, and its workers are going to food pantries.”

The rally which packed Cedar Street put up a great cheer when the graduate teachers in Local 33 who won their first contract last year made the dramatic announcement that a majority of post-docs, have now signed union cards, which would add 1400 more union members on campus..

Bob Proto, President of Local 35-UNITE HERE said “Our members are committed to settling a fair contract, supporting post-docs as they form their union, and standing with New Haven urging Yale to pay their fair share.” 

Getting a union job at Yale changed my life said Elidia Lezama, a member of Local 35-UNITE HERE service and maintenance workers. “Before I got a job at Yale, I worked multiple jobs and couldn’t count on regular hours. I had to figure out how to survive through pay periods where I made as little as $25 per week and in other weeks, I had to work so much that I was hardly able to see my kids.”

“Now,” she said, “since the pandemic, many of my co-workers are back to working multiple jobs and struggling to get by.” 

Raven Turquoise-Moon, a longtime member of clerical and technical workers Local 34-UNITE HERE said “I have an education, a job at the city’s largest employer, and yet buying a home in my neighborhood is out of reach.”

“I’m not alone.” she said. “Our members are getting priced out of New Haven because their rents have gone up by $300, $500, $800 dollars – and our wages haven’t caught up. I should be able to continue to do the work that I have done for 19 years to uphold Yale’s mission, a mission that I believe in, and buy a home here.”

Days before, a large picket of food service workers at Southern Connecticut State University, members of UNITE HERE Local 217 called on the subcontractor Sodexo to settle the contract they are neogiating. The night before marching from the Green to Cedar Street, the workers voted 98% in favor of going on strike if they have to.

Nick McDonald, Vice President of Local 217 and a food service worker at SCSU exclaimed “We, the Local 217 members who work at SCSU, CCSU and WCSU, are in the struggle just like our brothers and sisters at Yale. We aren’t going to give up until we get what we need.”

“We don’t want to escalate but we are sending a clear message to Sodexo and the Connecticut state universities: if we don’t get it, shut it down.” he concluded as the rally chanted with him.

The large crowd was inspired by Brandon Daley, a junior at Metropolitan Business Academy, who declared that youth are organizing in New Haven: “We’re fighting for all of us. For classrooms with the resources we deserve. For jobs that let our families thrive, not just survive. For a city where no student has to live in fear. For a future where young people have the opportunities to lead and succeed.” 

The students are supporting their teachers who were in the crowd as the New Haven Federation of Teachers organizes to win it's new contract with the Board of Education. Last year students walked out in support of fully funded schools.

Tonya Ricks, a member of Local 34- UNITE HERE, summed it all up when she said, “I stand before you to let you know: my salary is not keeping up! The price of everything is going up but my check is not making ends meet. We need better pay and we need more union members!”